KARACHI, Sept 25: Defending champions, Army and star-studded Habib Bank fought their way into the final of the 45th National basketball championship after winning their respective pre-finals in Attock on Sunday, says a message. The soldiers inflicted an 80-54 victory on Railways after enjoying 34-29 lead at halftime. Mudassir Khan (18), Waheed Iqbal (17) and Pervaiz Hussain (15) were the principal scorers for the winners while Arif Khan and Adnan Khan scored 13 and 12 points for the losers.

In the other encounter, last year’s bronze medallists, Habib Bank, toppled last year’s runners-up, Wapda, 72-57. The bankers led 30-24 at the breather.

Zahid Mahmood top-scored with 17 points while Atif and Falak Farid scored 13 points apiece. Jahangir Ahmed netted 17 points for the losers.

Army and HBL play final on Monday. The third position play-off between Railways and Wapda will be played the same day in the morning.